Undocumented college students get support from tech titan, state lawmakers

Students rallied for the passage of the federal DREAM Act in front of the White House in Washington D.C. in 2009. (Photo: Sarrah Nomanbhoy/ Peninsula Press)

Frustrated by Congress’s failure to offer undocumented students a path to citizenship, Bay Area technology leaders, activists, and nonprofits have joined forces to help young people without legal immigration status go to college and start careers.

Silicon Valley millionaire Jeff Hawkins, the inventor of the Palm Pilot, donated around $300,000 to Educators for Fair Consideration, a San Francisco nonprofit that helps undocumented students achieve their academic and career goals. He said he intends to increase his financial support as the organization finds new ways to help undocumented students.

“We are currently in an exploratory phase,’’ Hawkins said in a telephone interview. “There is so much more we need to do.”